4/8: The Waddle & Silvy FAFO Show- Pt II

All right, let's bring in Courtney Cronin right now, who is joining us on our YouTube page and YouTube channel at ESPN 1000 Chicago. Courtney, how have you been? Been good. I miss you guys. I talked to Waddle last week. How was Mexico? It was great. Have you been to Cancun before? I love Cancun. I never thought I would. I have only been to Cabo, Los Cabos, but Cancun sounds great. Yeah, I've been to Cabo, too. We used to be big Cabo people, but we veered since to Cancun. I told you, the mall across the street where we stay has all the top designers. It's a high-end mall. Love that. Jesse downplayed it, but I told you when we were talking about it off the air one day, oh, it's legit. It's legit. So he got busted trying to bring back in steroids and a bunch of antibiotics, but we were able to bail him out, Courtney, and he's back to work. Yeah, those pharmacies, they'll get you every time. I don't know if any of that stuff is legit, but I'm just glad that you weren't detained at customs. Yeah, thank you. I appreciate that you're here. We tried our best to get him detained. We couldn't get it. Waddle, Waddle, yeah. Waddle, once before, Courtney, well before you were working with us, when I took a trip to Miami. This was years. And I was taking one of the wheel bags that the carry-on, though, so you're putting it through security. He put a tape cut. What's the right word? It was one of those things, Courtney, where it's got a tape roll on it, but it also has a sharp edge so you can cut the tape. I put it in his bag because I was trying to get him stopped at TSA. Yeah, he put it in the inside flap. I didn't get caught, but I didn't know it was there. So when I reached inside to grab some stuff of the zipper, I cut my finger because I went in too hard. Mission accomplished. And I wasn't expecting a razor blade there. Yeah, that's – what is the title of the show today that I see in the YouTube link? I think – Mess around and find out. Yeah, yeah. That's an example of that, I guess. Listen, I wasn't always this, you know, this fine, nice, wonderful guy. I was a dick back in the day. So, you know, I've grown up. You're still a dick. Okay. That's fair. Courtney, before – look, the main reason why I wanted to talk to you today, and obviously there's a draft to get to, and I'm sure you have thoughts on that, is because you and I are simpatico regarding the Bulls. Like, it stopped this year because I don't think you watched that much, and I certainly didn't watch much. But like a year or two ago, we were really texting a lot about our Bulls frustration. So, you know, being a reporter, being a Chicago person, being a person who loves the Bulls, what is your thought with what they did and the direction they're going here? A day late and a dollar short. I think that's the ultimate feeling that I walk away with, knowing that they could have done this years ago. Instead, they waited until the last week of the regular season to somehow find resolution here. And I still feel like they're playing with one hand tied behind their back that they did to themselves by saying that you have to have a general manager come in here who, without a shadow of a doubt, believes in Billy Donovan, wants Billy Donovan as a head coach. So you're not letting a GM come in here and build the team in his vision. And there's nothing against Billy as the head coach of this team. I personally, I was a little stunned when Michael Malone got hired as the UNC coach. I thought that Billy Donovan, considering he won two national championships at Florida, would have been a shoe in for that job. And I was curious if he wanted to still stay in Chicago after seeing what this ownership group is not willing to do to be a competitive team. So I don't know how to feel, honestly, because they did the right thing. It just took them five years too late to get to this conclusion of moving on from AK, moving on from Mark Eversley. But I still feel like this team is in a rudderless direction for a job that should be one of the most coveted in all of sports. It has a long, long, long way to go to even enact the true rebuild of rebuilding the team from the front office onwards. You know, it's so funny because it almost seems like an archaic thought in sports these days because, you know, there's so many different routes you can go and there's so much money involved that, oh, well, you should be thrilled to want to come here and be the GM of the Bulls and not hire your own coach. Like, this is very early 2000s, late 90s. This isn't 2026 in all of professional sports, is it? no and I think that they can take a lesson from the Chicago Bears in a lot of respects from when they did it the first time around obviously you know when they cleaned house in 2022 it may not have netted them the head coach for the long haul but they did it the right way by tearing it down to the studs to build it back up and that's what the Bulls should have done again it's nothing against Billy Donovan if you if you believe in him that much Michael Reinsdorf move him into the front office let him be in the uh brad stevens sort of role if he doesn't want to coach anymore maybe he does i don't know i wouldn't want to coach under the this uh the constraints that this team places on me the roster constraints the fact that you don't have any first round picks coming back to you for any of the players that you offloaded and some of the baffling roster decisions but if you believe in him that much don't put him with a gm who is ultimately might not have the same vision as him because he's coming in here knowing he has to acquiesce to whatever Billy Donovan wants. I would move Billy Donovan into a president of basketball operations role and let him then lead the rebuild if you believe it that his vision has to be a part of this long term. It's ass backwards in a lot of ways, but I'm not surprised that this franchise did it that way considering they have not given us anything to trust and believe in as far as direction. And still, this feels very directionless going forward despite them inevitably having to make changes at some point because it got so out of control and and just so went so far left so many different times that they couldn't they couldn't maintain that anymore they had to do something you know i want to love them i hate that i don't love them i hate that i hate them but they have forced that sort of emotion on me how would you describe where you are with the team are you in total apathy are you still angry where are you right now? I've been in apathy, honestly, since the last play in tournament. Like if you're playing for the middle, if you're a team that I saw a tweet from Bill Simmons that I thought was just brilliant, that it's described it perfectly, that since David Stern stepped down as the commissioner of the NBA, there has not been another team, sans the Pelicans, that have just gone about this playing for money and not playing to be a competitive team than the Chicago Bulls. It's a slap in the face to the fan base. It's a slap in the face to anybody that has cared about this team that wants to, like, we can't even envision them getting back to where they were in the 90s. Like, it's so far gone that the fact that they sell nostalgia, that's all they have. And so I think for me, the apathy runs very thick. And I don't know what it's going to take for me as a fan. Obviously, I cover the NBA, but I'm a fan of this team. And I love the NBA. I would love for this team in an Eastern conference that's had a lot of jockeying of positioning as of late within the last couple years where the Sixers are good one year and then they're not. The Miami Heat are good one year and then they're not. The New York Knicks look like they're teetering. I mean, there's the whole conversation about the 3C, but it's a gettable conference is what I'm trying to say. Yet you put yourself in no position. Milwaukee, throw them in there. They were there and then they weren't. You put yourself in no position to actually contend. And I have a hard time believing that they will get it right because they've shown you that it's more than just the front office that's gotten it wrong. It's the people controlling the purse strings of this franchise to go out and make big-time moves that can alter the trajectory of where you're going. That they're just not willing to do that. The bottom line is more important to them, getting the home gate for a play-in tournament game is more important than long-term success because we've seen them prioritize that over anything else the last couple years. And honestly, until they show me differently, which is probably going to take three to five years at the very minimum, even if they hire the best people out there. We'll see if any of these playoff teams, I kind of doubt it, fire their head coaches in the last week of the season, kind of like the Michael Malone, Taylor Jenkins treatment from a year ago. But I don't know. I have a hard time buying into any vision here because I don't trust the people behind the scenes that they've got the right vision in the first place. Well, that's why the buzz lasted for about four hours. Like the glee and the joy in Sylvie's eyes was something that we had that honeymoon to behold. And it dissipated and disappeared before the show was over because you realized that the route they were going to take was just was not going to lead you to where you want to go. And you mentioned a little bit of the Bears, Courtney. There are other examples here in Chicago. If you do business differently and recently here in sports, you can find your way back. You know, whether it's what Rocky Wurtz did after his old man passed away or it's what the Bears did, you know, getting out of their comfort zone and firing Matt Eberfuss and giving Ben Johnson whatever it would take. You know, it's Tom Rickett's hiring deal. There's plenty of examples here in Chicago that if you do things differently and don't cling to the way you've always done it, you know, you may find better days. But it seems like they have blinders on still. Well, again, I keep going back to this is an organization that makes its money by selling nostalgia. They're not selling, you know, they, no disrespect to the current roster and the players that they have and all the players that they parted ways with, but this version is not NBA basketball. Anybody who's watching this knows that they're not watching competitive NBA basketball. So it's a slap in the face to the fan base to charge them NBA basketball prices when you're watching a G League Plus team. And until they show you that they're prioritizing playing and fielding a roster that can compete in their own conference, let alone the rest of the league, I just don't have a lot of faith there. And the examples you pull up in Chicago of how these turnarounds have happened, sometimes it just takes one radical move to then cause a domino effect. And we saw it with the Bears this past year. An 11-win season after they hired the right coach and they threw a bag at him. They said, okay, you're the best at what you do. Go be the best at what you do, and we're going to pay you like that. Can the Bulls stomach that? Can they stomach that with getting a brand-name coach? I don't think you do a startup situation here. Even though this is a rebuild, I think if you're really going to try to change the perception of what this team is, first off, you've got to – this is insane. This is Chicago. This is not a destination for free agents at all to play on that team. So you've got to, much like their counterparts in the Chicago sky right now, you've got to rebuild your image to lure free agents here, to make people want to come here to play, instead of being the organization that agents, players, all these people around the league look at and say, well, that's dumb. They waited so long to trade Io DeSoon Moe to move Kobe White that they screwed themselves over the value. Well, that's dumb. They gave Patrick Williams a five-year, $90 million contract. Well, that's dumb. They traded Alex Caruso for – the list goes on and on. Can you just reestablish yourself as a credible organization first and foremost? Because that's where it starts. It's very much the bare bones. Can you be a credible, respectable organization like you once were 30 years ago? And that's where it has to – I think what 2026, 2027 is going to be all about. I still can hear a little Courtney Cronin anger. I know you say you're apathetic. As you continue to talk, I could still hear your passion for this. On the other side of the – I just don't like when people play in my face. That's what I don't like. And I don't like being told that the sky is purple when it's blue because that's what they've been doing to fans for a long time, when they make you pay at a premium to go watch a product that is not NBA-level basketball. And they keep telling you that they're not rebuilding. They're retooling. They're working towards something. Like, don't lie to your fans. Don't lie to them. People aren't stupid. But the fact is, again, until you hit the owners where it hurts in their pockets, you're never going to see real change. It's great that it took five years too late for this to happen. You would like to believe as fans in the city of a one-story franchise that eventually there will be changes. But we're all too smart as sports fans to believe what they're selling us right now and what they've been selling us for the better part of two decades. Guess who's sold more tickets this NBA season than any other team? The Chicago Bulls. Only the Bulls. Only the Bulls. I always say I won't go to a game unless I have free tickets, unless a friend gets tickets. Don't go there either, Courtney. Don't do that either. I'm going on Friday. Oh, Courtney. Look, I will not be patronizing them in the way that I'm not giving that organization my money. I'm just going to be straight up about that. You can't order any cocktails, then, because those are going to cost you about $30 a wild bee. Yeah, exactly. Exactly. But I have the opportunity to do that. I know a lot of fans really want to go and watch this team. They want to believe that the glory years will eventually come back. I think most fans that I talk to that are Bulls fans, and obviously I don't cover them, so I can have a different viewpoint of this than if I were covering the Bears, a team that I'm objective about, a team that I cover on a daily basis. I think a lot of fans are just fed up with the act, and they don't want to continue to shell out money for something that doesn't yield them any return on investment. And that's kind of where I've been the last couple of years, ever since I moved back to Chicago, that if they're good, if they actually put in the effort, I'll tune back in. I will be willing to give my own capital to the organization. But until then, no, absolutely not. I like that. I like that. I don't know if you spoke about this when I was on vacation because Waddle brought it up immediately when I got back and we were playing some of the sound from the NFL owners' meetings. Is George walking around with more of a swagger these days? He seems more decisive, more definitive with his statements. I think that's a fair assessment. I sat down with him after he did our group availability. And even when he was talking about, at the beginning, when he was talking about the stadium, and let's not use trite, I believe that was the word he used, or contrived football terminology or adjectives saying we're at the two-yard line. You know, him saying that in the room of an outlet that, like, published that, I was like, damn, George, where'd this come from? This isn't the PC George that we're so used to being around. But I appreciated that. I appreciated the candid nature. And I do think that, obviously, having the season that they had this year, him finally having fun again, consistent fun as a sports fan, And you saw it from the fist pump when they beat Cincinnati in week nine. And you saw it where he told me, I sat down with him afterwards, he told me this is probably more fun and more rewarding for him as a fan, which he always claims to be, than the 1985 season. Which is, you know, obviously they won a Super Bowl that year, but they were world beaters. They were rolling over everybody that season. Because there was the question of, okay, is this for real? Well, I think that that brought out a different George than we're used to seeing. And I very much appreciate that because he, you know, he's been very transparent. He's been very honest. And he's also stepped out of his comfort zone, the comfort zone of how the team's done things in years past. I mean, we just talked about, you know, them hiring Ben Johnson and what that did to change the outlook in Chicago. Like, I think George is bearing or kind of like reaping the fruits of his labor here because of the things that he did differently, knowing that this organization needed change, and that's why maybe the way that he speaks publicly now might come across as a little bit more, I'm trying to find a word here, like not that he's puffing out his chest by any means, but he's a little bit more confident when he speaks. He's got a little swagger. Which I think is great. Not that George would ever have a swagger, and his swagger is going to look different than other people's swagger, but for George, and I've said it, Courtney, I like this version of George, I thought his concise, detailed and spot on explanation for how they handled the Ian Cunningham situation, I thought, you know, it inspired me that, hey, for the first time in a long time, I got a feeling like the owner is in New York talking to the commissioner and in a very impassioned way, telling him, hey, you're screwing us with this, these comp picks. And at the very least, I could walk away from it as a Bears fan thinking that for the first time in a long time, you know, I like the way that they're doing business. Yeah. And I think that's a vibe that most of us came away with from Arizona, especially the comp picks thing, because obviously it didn't go in their favor. They got shut down a second time. But the way that George positioned that, that it's, you know, the league has this rule book here and that they're teetering down a slippery slope if they don't give the Bears their comp picks. The fact that they kept trying after being told no the first time, I thought was, you know, a very prudent move by them. And it shows that the owners invested in doing what's right for this organization and not stopping until he gets an answer. whether it's a good answer or a bad answer for them. What do you think, Courtney, will happen first? Will the Bears draft a player first, or will they know where they're building their stadium? I think the draft will come first. I do. I think April 23rd is two weeks from tomorrow. I know that they told, Kevin Warren told us, late springtime, early summer is the destination. I know Adam Schefter reported that. It's the next couple of weeks. They will have an idea. They'll know where they're going. There still is that May 31st date at the end of the legislative session for the state of Illinois. And I know they're trying to give them every bit of, you know, every inch they can give them to make something happen because ultimately they own the land there. It's less of a hassle if they can just work out the property tax certainty. But I will say, while I do think that the draft pick comes first, this is a team that loves a press conference right before a big moment or a big statement before a big moment. So let's not put it past this team to have a Wednesday, April 22nd announcement of where the team will be going. Kevin Warren's going to tell us they're interested in a site downtown Chicago once again. That's what he's going to do. No, I'm joking. Back to George for a moment, Courtney. Did you believe him when he said that we'll be fine either way, that I'm okay either way, whether it's in Hammond or it's in Arlington Heights? Or you truly believe in his heart? He doesn't want to go to Indiana because this team needs to be in the state of Illinois. I think it's both. I think if you really got him on the spot about that, he's a traditionalist. I mean, look at from everything from the uniforms to, you know, the history of this organization to the Hall of Fame. George is about the most purebred football guy out there. And the Chicago Bears throughout their history have played their football, their home games in the state of Illinois. I do believe that this would be a major adjustment for him, just like he talked about it being an adjustment from when they went to Wrigley, from Wrigley to Soldier Field 50 years ago. But they're feeling the pressure from the commissioner. They're feeling the pressure of the fact that they bought this plot of land three years ago and they still don't have anything or the clothes on it three years ago and they don't have anything erected on it. I think enough time has passed to where he realizes we're going to lose money if we don't get this thing built. and the way he talked about the gamble here of those $2 billion, the bonds that they're going to have to purchase to fund this thing because they're not sitting on $2 billion in cash. Most billionaires aren't, but they're less liquid than most franchises. I think that there's bigger concerns here that kind of outweigh the nostalgia factor for him of, oh, we've got to stay in Chicago, we've got to stay in Illinois, that right now it's about where can we get the best deal for this stadium to get it built, knowing that it's a brand that will not lose its fan base, like bringing it full circle. If the Bulls can keep their fan base and keep making money amid not even trying and the Bears are actively trying, I think that George knows that he's not going to lose fans over this. Not in the slightest. The Giants and the Jets didn't lose fans when they moved to MetLife. So I think the Bears are in a very similar situation, and he's at peace with that. Yeah. As far as moves on the football field, we joked yesterday, I'm still on high alert for like a tweet from Chef Dear You or someone that, hey, the Bears made a trade or the Bears are thinking about Dexter Lawrence or something like that. I see they have barely any cap room. I think they're lowest. Is there any chance of them surprising us with some sort of move before they draft or during the draft with some sort of a deal? you know the Dexter Lawrence of it all I find a little hard to believe right now first and foremost I think the Giants are going to figure this thing out it's it's voluntary OTAs this happens every year with different teams and guys not showing up because they want new contracts you don't let a piece of like of like that caliber out of your defense um he's outplayed his contract there's no guaranteed money left I think the deal gets done with the Giants I know people keep bringing up the bears because of the pass rush and they did spend the resources and free agency on the interior and they also have jervon dexter and grady jared so i just i find that one a little bit harder to believe a big signing like that right before the draft but as far as a trade it's like where where are they going like a day two trade a day three trade short they've got that extra second round pick but trading up or out of 25 i think is so difficult because it's kind of no man's land on the board unless I like what I keep feeling is a possibility is that instead of defensive end at 25 which if there's a pass rusher they like there absolutely go for it you need somebody you didn't you haven't addressed that spot yet I still think that with Ozzy Trapillo's uncertainty about when he's coming back that they will very much be in the market for an offensive tackle on day one I think that's in the play I think it's in the play there because Caden Proctor in a lot of mock drafts goes to the Steelers, maybe one or two above where the Bears are, one or two below, either to Buffalo or there's another, I forget who's right after them at 27. But it's a need because Ozzie Trapillo's injury causes a lot of confusion about what this line is going to look like, and I just don't think they're satisfied with four guys who haven't played high-end football in a year being their options at left tackle. Has there been anything about this offseason to this point now that a lot of it has come and gone that has surprised you? Or has it kind of unfolded the way you thought it was? No big splash signing, which I guess is a little surprising just given this team did have success and they want to maintain success. I understand that a splashy move doesn't necessarily yield success. But I'm not surprised by this. I mean, obviously the Drew Dahlman retirement, nobody saw that coming. But as far as like other big things that they did do or didn't do, you know, Ryan Poles told it. So it was I remember sitting with you guys at the combine and Sylvie was at 80 percent on a DJ Moore trade at that point. That was like the day after Poles talked. And I was like, I'm going to get 40, 45 or whatever. And, you know, what what he has shown you as a general manager is believe him when he's hemming and hawing over something or when he's, you know, hesitant about like, I don't know. Like we might not be you might not be here, but he's got to see how it plays out. That usually is a tell. So I guess from that logic, I'm not surprised really by any of those moves, but it just feels like there weren't enough big-time team-altering moves to make you think there were a lot of big-time upgrades to make you think this roster is that much better than it was a year ago. So by that logic, that would be my only surprise. Yeah, I would say from our perspective, and I would speak for Sylvie too, but when you have a quarterback, as they say, on a rookie contract, and you've shown that you're capable of maybe surprising some folks, I would say that I was in that camp where I thought it was more likely maybe than others that they would make a big play. But it sounds like to me the message coming out of Hollis Hall is they're playing the long game here, and they want not just success this year and next year, they want a sustained success. So here's hoping that they're able to achieve that for sure. Courtney, before we let you go, what's the offseason been like for you? Every time I look up, you're doing some national TV, sports center, something like that. How much fun have you been having? It's been great. I mean, I've been home like five days in March, five or six days in February. But it's been great. I'm out in New York now doing first take tomorrow and Friday. So it's a great time of year. I love being able to kind of mix these things into my schedule and get these opportunities. And I'm grateful for them. And it's always fun to represent Chicago on the big stage because I don't, you know, they call us the third coast or whatever. I still think we're number one. So let me try to sneak some Bulls talk into First Take tomorrow. There will be enough Knicks talk to keep everybody happy. We'll see what I can do. You just blasted them recently on one of the shows, didn't you, too? I did. I did because it was when Shams reported about the anti-tanking measures. There's like the three. It's about the lottery and like expanding the lottery and what the odds are and then the five-in-five model or whatever it's called. so I remember it was Steve and I and I talking it was a very brief conversation just because we were still getting the reporting out about what the measures were and he brought up a point about teams that don't play to actually do anything successful on the court they're just playing for the middle and of course as someone who's from Chicago and someone who a long time was a Bulls fan I've witnessed that and the analogy I used was that it's like a high school dance Everybody wants to be invited. The teams that do just enough to get an invite to the dance are in one tier, but not everybody can do what it takes to be prom king or prom queen. That's kind of how I view the Bulls right now, and that was kind of my parting message as we went off that, because they never really take. That's the problem. It's never been bad enough to be what the Wizards are right now or what the Nets are going to be. They've been so mediocre playing for the middle that at least try to suck. Try to be so, so bad. Or when they're good, they never try to be great. When they're good, they never try to be great and go over the top and spend. Their plans have been very middle-ish. It's never to be great or to bottom out. It's always to be in that good and we'll see what happens. Great work. Because that makes you money. That makes you money That keeps people going to games And that is a very selfish way of operating a team And I don know if that will change but at least we know that the leadership internally will By the way real quick based on this stat that I have in front of me as of January 8th of 2026, the Bulls were sixth in operating income, despite how mightily they've struggled. Funny how that works. Yes. So, the almighty dollar. Yes, it is. Courtney, great work. Thanks for taking time for us today. Of course. See you guys. There you go. Courtney Cronin right here on our YouTube page. Two of my buddies I'm going out with tomorrow, my Skokie crew, who I grew up with. I've referenced them before. When you guys go out and hit the town, like, is it just, like, messy? No, no, no, no, no, no. I don't get messy. Some of them still do. I have one buddy, Chris, who we reunited with. He gets messy. He can still party with the best of them. But my buddy Jason, who I grew up with, he says, Mark, can we watch your show live on YouTube during the White Sox games when they're on AM 1000? I go, yeah, we're here now. So I don't think everyone still knows. It doesn't sound like you guys are very close. We are, and he listens to the show a lot. And I think we've been promoting it quite a bit. Does he think you're still selling shoes at Athlete's Foot? Is that where you're at? Let me take this call, then we'll break it, and then we'll do Waddle's World because someone's on hold from Australia. But yes, the shows, whenever the Sox play, no difference in Sox games. This is not an anti-Sox thing. This is just, hey, Waddle and Sylvie need to work instead of getting all this extra time off 2 to 6. So we're on every day 2 to 6. Some of the show may be on YouTube like today. And then once the Sox postgame ends, we'll be on everywhere. We were on all day yesterday on YouTube. So it's just another way you could get it. And the way we continue to evolve is a show with all the cameras. Why not? So hopefully you're enjoying it. Aaron is calling us from Australia. I believe Aaron has called before. It is great to hear from you. What time is it there? It is 6.30 in the morning, boys. Isn't that incredible? Tomorrow morning. We always make the joke about he's calling us from the future. Thursday. Calling us from the future. So just got two points on the Fuck Around and Find Out show and also on the Bulls. First of all, like, you would have had a whole bunch of listeners who would have been pestering you to get Unhinged back on, and now we get one, two, three, up to four hours of Unhinged. So just wanted to say thanks to the White Sox. and secondly, yeah, the Bulls. After listening, I'm a 37-year Bulls fan and after listening to Michael speak yesterday, there is no hope as a Bulls fan. The amount of enjoyment that I got as a Bulls fan as a kid growing up, this team, this franchise, this ownership, has taken away from me the opportunity to share my favourite basketball team with my eight- and nine-year-old son. Now, you talk about people not turning up to games and it hitting them in the hip pocket, being the only way to get through to them. I can tell you right now that the generation of Bulls fans that is coming up behind the youngest one now, the youngest generation now, is going to be affected by the way they run this team because I have no interest in watching Bulls games. And I'm like you, Sylvie. I have a Bulls tattoo on my body. I'm a lifelong fan, but I have no interest, A, in watching them or B, having my boys watching the Bulls. Yeah, we have no hope. I'm going to make sure that this call is heard inside that building because this is a worldwide brand. This is a guy in Aaron who found them in Australia 37 years ago, I think he said. And to now, he wants to watch them. Michael Jordan's not coming through that door. No, neither is Luke Longley. And all he wants to do is share it with his son to the next generation. Aaron, I think the point that you brought up, too, is a great one. Our generation now, like you and I, are the ones now who are the spenders. But we grew up as kids, high school kids, college kids, before we had the discretionary income. And we were fueled by our love of the bulls. So therefore, it is carried over because there's a bit of FOMO, too, where, hey, what happens if we do get another Derrick? What happens if Michael Jordan comes and I can't get a ticket like back in the 90s? But now when that next generation gets older and they become the spenders, none of them will be interested in the Bulls because they have not been brought up by watching the Bulls. So while this is lasting now through us, I believe there is going to be an end to this hopefully soon if they don't continue, if they don't deliver, because they need to feel it in the pockets. so it has to come it comes from the fans like as you mentioned on a show a few days ago about like the older bulls fans you see all the kids walking down the street even here in australia the amount of bulls gear it just yeah it turns my stomach if it makes me want to i wouldn't because I'm not out of my mind, but it makes me want to walk up to them and tell them that they're wearing merchandise from the worst run franchise in professional sports. What a great call, Aaron. Thanks a lot. Have a great day, okay? Have a great Thursday. Thanks, boys. Love you both. What a great call that is. And, like, it's a worldwide disinterest, disdain. He wants to go up to people. I remember going to Italy these last three years. We were in Portofino, and there was a bar. And the first logo when you walk into the bar is a Chicago Bulls logo. Well, they're probably selling Billy Donovan jerseys in there now. That's right. When I was in Rome a couple years ago, we would see Derrick Rose jerseys just being worn. It's cool. It's a brand. You know, and it's just in Chicago, I hope that many of the Bulls fans who are excited about the news that AK and Eversley were fired, don't just submit your invoice back and return a check simply because of that move. I would say wait if you've been frustrated to see what they end up doing here. The hard work is still on the horizon. I mean, like, the easy job was getting rid of people. Can you imagine, too? I was thinking about this. A lot of people have said, well, Billy still has to say yes. Won't it look even worse optically if you got the fan base in a tizzy by saying, we won't hire anybody who doesn't want Billy? or if Billy says I don't want the Bulls and if days later Billy comes and he says no thanks I'd like out of my deal how will that look like that will look even worse Courtney made a reference about going to the dance of being turned down to go to the dance you know that they're lusting over him nothing would shock me with regard to this team 312-332-3776 you want to talk to us we just gave you an hour and 40 minutes of uninterrupted stuff. Let's go uninterrupted Waddles World coming up. Is that cool, guys? We still have a little bit before the Sox game's over. It's top eight for three Orioles right now. So the Sox are looking to salvage a game here against Baltimore. They trail by a run. As soon as Meller is done, we'll be on all tentacles of ESPN 1000. ESPN 1000, ESPN Chicago app, and, of course, 100.3 HD2. You can listen to us right now on Twitch and YouTube. Tell your friends. And when you leave your office or your home, you could also put it over your Bluetooth through Twitch and YouTube. Make sure you listen in the car as well. We appreciate it. We'll take your phone calls. Waddle's World coming up next. You're listening to Waddle and Sylvie on ESPN 1000, Chicago's home for sports. How do you know your home? At Habitat for Humanity, we believe it's when you find peace, stability, and safety. But one in three people on Earth woke up today without a good home. Not because of chance, but because of high costs and other very real barriers. A housing crisis this big needs all of us. So let's open the door to opportunity. And build a tomorrow where home is possible. For everyone. Visit habitat.org to learn more. Again, that's habitat.org. Habitat for Humanity. Let's open the door. There's a world of opportunity out there. Beyond the typical 9-5. where purpose and grit come together, where the American spirit and ingenuity are welcomed in places that could really use your skills and your experience. We're talking about the Peace Corps, with volunteers living and working in communities around the globe. That's been called the toughest job you'll ever love. Tough, because it asks so much of you to dig deeper, get your hands dirty, to go that extra mile, to rise to the occasion, and meet challenges head on. And the love part comes from being part of something bigger than yourself. From building bonds that last a lifetime, it's knowing your hard work transformed lives, including your own. After 65 years, the Peace Corps is still the toughest job you'll ever love. Explore opportunities in more than 60 countries, learn about benefits, and apply at peacecorps.gov slash serve. Sorry, I'm out sick again. I just can't shake this fever. Spread by mosquito bites, West Nile virus is found in nearly every state across the country. Elena had another asthma attack. She's really sad to miss school again. Asthma, a leading chronic illness among children and youth in the U.S., can often be triggered by allergens from household pests. Don't let pests force you to take a sick day. Learn how to protect your family at pestworld.org. A public service message from the National Pest Management Association and the CDC. At the Y, strength means something different. It means people of all ages being together. It means you can be swishing the game-winning shot, learning to plie in first position, jabbing, crossing, and hooking a punching bag, canoeing in the late summer camp, donating food for your neighbors, watching your son learn about water safety in the pool. 175 years later, there's still no place like this place. Get involved at your Y. Learn more at YMCA.org. Elena had another asthma attack. She's really sad to miss school again. Asthma can be triggered by allergens from common pests. I just can't shake this fever. Mosquito bites can cause West Nile and Zika virus infections. Sorry, boss. I'm going to be out of work for a while. The CDC estimates that more than 300,000 Lyme disease cases spread by ticks occur in the U.S. each year. Don't let pests force you to take a sick day. Learn how to protect your family at PestWorld.org. A public service message from the National Pest Management Association and the CDC. Hey, drivers. It's Joey Logano, driver number 22, discount tire Ford Mustang, Dark Horse, and the NASCAR Cup Series. I've got a quick reminder that's essential to keeping you safe on the road. Check your tire pressures. Underinflated tires can fail when you least expect it and cost you more at the pump. Test your tires at least once a month or swing by a local tire retailer for an air check. A little time now can help keep you rolling safely. A message from the U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association. When you need them, your local volunteer fire department routinely answers the call. Whether it be a fire, traffic accident, or a cat stuck in a tree, there is always someone there for you. However, because of declines in memberships, departments are becoming understaffed and struggling. Here's how you can help your neighbors and your community. No matter what skills you may possess, you can make a difference. Your local volunteer fire department desperately needs your help. Can you direct traffic, install a smoke alarm, help at fundraisers? Your community needs you. You don't have to fight fire to be a volunteer. Will you make that difference? Will you answer the call? Brought to you by the National Volunteer Firefighter Recruitment Center, a program service of the Volunteer Firefighter Alliance. For more information on how you can help and make a difference, visit www.nvfrc.org. That's www.nvfrc.org. I'm Justin Smith, retired sheriff and executive director for the National Sheriff's Association. Criminal networks are stealing billions of dollars through social media, phone calls and texts, posing as people you trust. They pressure and demand money or personal information. Don't fall for it. If something feels wrong, slow down and verify. Hang up. Don't click. Never send money. If targeted, contact law enforcement. Protect yourself. Protect your family. Learn more at sheriffs.org slash stopscams. A public service message from the National Sheriff's Association. How do you know your home? At Habitat for Humanity, we believe it's when you find peace, stability, and safety. But one in three people on earth woke up today without a good home. Not because of chance, but because of high costs and other very real barriers. A housing crisis this big needs all of us. So let's open the door to opportunity. And build a tomorrow where home is possible. For everyone. Visit habitat.org to learn more. Again, that's habitat.org. Habitat for Humanity. Let's open the door. There's a world of opportunity out there. Beyond the typical 9 to 5. Where purpose and grit come together. Where the American spirit and ingenuity are welcomed. in places that could really use your skills and your experience. We're talking about the Peace Corps. With volunteers living and working in communities around the globe, it's been called the toughest job you'll ever love. Tough, because it asks so much of you to dig deeper, get your hands dirty, to go that extra mile, to rise to the occasion and meet challenges head on. And the love part comes from being part of something bigger than yourself. From building bonds that last a lifetime, it's knowing your hard work transformed lives, including your own. After 65 years, the Peace Corps is still the toughest job you'll ever love. Explore opportunities in more than 60 countries, learn about benefits, and apply at peacecorps.gov. Sorry, I'm out sick again. I just can't shake this fever. Spread by mosquito bites, West Nile virus is found in nearly every state across the country. Elena had another asthma attack. She's really sad to miss school again. Asthma, a leading chronic illness among children and youth in the U.S., can often be triggered by allergens from household pests. Don't let pests force you to take a sick day. Learn how to protect your family at pestworld.org. A public service message from the National Pest Management Association and the CDC. At the Y, strength means something different. It means people of all ages being together. It means you can be swishing the game-winning shot, learning to plie in first position, jabbing, crossing, and hooking a punching bag, canoeing in the late summer camp, donating food for your neighbors, watching your son learn about water safety in the pool. 175 years later, there's still no place like this place. Get involved at your Y. Learn more at YMCA.org. ESPN 1000, Chicago's home for sports. You're listening to Waddle and Sylvie. Watch us and join the chat. Follow ESPN 1000 Chicago on Twitch.tv or the Twitch app. It's that time again when we venture deep into the great unknown. And in Chicago, Tom Waddle. He can't run, he's not fast, but he gets open. A trip inside the mind of a multi-concussed former Bears wide receiver. He caught everything that was thrown and took every hit that they could give him. And he had an all-time day in the use of smelling salt. Buckle up, boys and girls. Tom Waddle, everything. Once I was Tom Waddle. If I had a football team, I'd like to have a Tom Waddle on my team because you draw from that. It's time to go inside Waddle's World. Tom Waddle did have to use a lot of smelling salt. What do we got at the White Sox game? Are they still trailing 4-3? Is that where we're at? Commercial right now, yeah. Was it going to bottom eight right now? Where are we? I think bottom eight. Four three. Last I checked. Charlie, where are you going tonight? You going to Oregon? Going back west? Yeah, I'm going to Portland. Going to play some golf? It is. Oh, yeah, I'll play a little golf. Yeah. Watch a little Masters. Yeah? Oh, yeah. All right. Good time. Good stuff. Portland nice this time of year. Imagine it is. It's a little hit or miss because it can rain a ton around this time of year. But it looks like I'm mostly dodging it. It's going to be really nice tomorrow and Friday. This would have been a day where probably you guys more so than me probably would have been out on the golf course earlier today if you didn't have this goddamn work thing to, you know, hover it over your head. It's probably 60s by, like, maybe a little. You guys probably would have gotten nine in. Walking over. Yeah. On the train. I think I'm going to that Blazers game on Sunday See if they make the playoffs and get the Bulls a pick. So it looks like right now the Trail Blazers are matched up against Golden State in the play-in, right? Well, they play. Everything's going to really come down to their game against the Clippers. Because if they beat the Clippers, that's who they're going back and forth. They're separated by a game or half a game. And if the Blazers win, they'll draw even with them. And they would then have the tiebreaker over the Clippers. Yeah. Did you guys see the contract that the Pirates gave Connor Griffin? 19 years old, 9 years, $140 million. It's the largest contract ever given to a player with a career average of 176. That's true. You may laugh. That is true. But it's true. He's played 5 games. And he's got a career average in 5 games of 176. So technically I'm right. the largest contract ever given to a player with a career batting average of 176. That's pretty good. That's pretty good. That's pretty good stuff by me, right? Is this the trend now? I mean, we've seen this done a lot in the last even decade where they try to tie up their really good young players. But now they're going to a lot of players who haven't played a lot of games yet or any. Because especially teams like Pittsburgh. Do you think this is happening more because it's the trend? or because of where the baseball situation is with labor talks and no one knows the rules yet? And they're trying to get ahead of it. I think it has to do with labor but not getting ahead of it. Look at some of the teams that are doing it, too. So the Pirates can go into those CBA negotiations and say, what do you mean we're not spending money? We just gave out $140 million to Connor Griffin. Which, by the way, I mean, like, I don't know how to feel about this because I don't know a damn thing about Connor Griffin. He's 19 years old, right? He was the number one prospect in baseball. Okay, but that's a lot of money to give somebody who has never... Like, I get it. DCA's had three years. Parts of three seasons. There's also the world where he becomes really good and he's extremely underpaid. That's true. And him in his second year. He's 19 years old and already in the bigs. Like, usually, the last time we saw that was Juan Soto. I was just going to say, first teenage position player to debut since Juan Soto in 2018 when he took over a shortstop spot, right? Griffin, isn't that what he is? Yeah, shortstop. Here's a question for you. What would Skeens say yes to? So, what is this? This is his third year? Like one and a half years. He debuted against the Cubs, didn't he? What you say yes to is, we'd like to trade you, Paul. He'd say yes. What would it take for him? He's still, it's still a while away, isn't he? Yeah. He's a true free agent. The other part of, like these negotiations, the CBA is probably going to chop arbitration years off too. That's probably what the players are going to ask for. So what do you think it would take for him to say yes? A 19-year-old who has played five games, as Waddle said. Just got nine years, $140 million. By the way, you think that's a good deal? You think that, I mean, there's some risk on both sides. But is it a deal that you would have done if you were Tyler Aki, general manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates? I think both sides should do deals like that, yeah. Because he hits free agency when he's 28. And I think for the Pirates, you'd do this more willingly than if you're the Cubs or the Yankees, right? or the Dodgers certainly, because you can afford paying guys. Pirates can't afford signing any guys when they're great. I know, and the thing, too, about when you become a free agent when you're 28 or 29 or 30, you're still, you know, I know it's baseball, but you still have some mileage on you. Danny, what are you doing? Stop bothering Charlie. We're doing a show here. What the fuck? Guys, listen, I try not to oversee and overstep my bounds. I'm watching this tremendous show on YouTube, and I see Charlie eating potato chips in the brand new studio with his greasy fingers all over our beautiful floor. Oh, Charlie. There have been reports of crumbs here when certain people get here in the morning. There's been a dirty spoon left in this spot. A dirty spoon? I'm here to make sure that our tremendous new studio looks tremendous at all times. Charlie's a culprit, guys. One more strike, and he's going to have to be suspended. With pay, Charlie, do it. Do it again. Like, they can't suspend you without pay, so they're going to give you some time off, paid time off. I mean, I'm off the next two days. Just crumble all of those chips all over your desk and see how much paid vacation you get. Who had the dirty spoon? Have you figured out whose dirty spoon it was? Yeah, there was a good chance that was probably me. Oh, you're just leaving this. You're like my 10-year-old. You're just leaving spoons around now? It was a singular spoon, I would say. The thing is, there's a strict don't eat in the studio rule, which everyone seems to obey except two people, Cap and Charlie. Say a curse word. No one else is in here uninterrupted for an hour and a half, though. Yeah, like, you're lucky I'm not shitting in my chair. If you can't go an hour and a half without eating, you've got a real problem. You're lucky I didn't shit in my chair. Yeah, thank you for not shitting in your chair. Thank you. No, thank you. My favorite part of this whole thing has been when you and Keith came over to the window and you looked like we had stolen something. I'm telling you. We didn't even know what we were talking about. Like, really? We just wanted to get your reaction. Keith was in my office we were meeting, and you had some vulgarities that I will not repeat here. And Keith's like, can they do that? And I said, of course they can do it. Was it jerking off the pig? And he just wanted to look. Jerk that pig. It was a great chant. What? What happened? What'd you just do? I needed the crumbs on the counter. Is that what happened? The crumbs got in the... Listen, this is Charlie's final warning. You, Sylvie, our fine folks on YouTube are all witnesses to this. All right? No more eating. And if he eats, you're responsible. Can I get a paid day off? Isn't that what you're taking today? Really? I mean, it seems like this has been the Sylvie show to me. Wow. Whoa. Wow. That's fine. I would never say that. No. That's just a day that ends in a Y. Sylvie actually texted me. He's like, has Waddle said anything in the last hour? That's not true. Listen, it's the chair. It's the chair. It's what happens. You just fall into a sense of security and comfortableness. Are you looking at porn like Yurk does, too? No, I'm not on porn. Yurk has not gone with porn up here. No, no. You can see everything on YouTube. Porn, but not porn. Are you kidding? You can't do that. All right, boys. I'm sorry to interrupt. I never would do it again. By the way, Danny suggested that we start on these YouTube shows because I noticed yesterday I have not been in the chat or at least paid attention to the chat recently. Twitch ruined me on that. So we're going to start doing. I almost threw up in my mouth. Oh, my God. Why? So gross. Why? What are you doing over there? What's going on? I burped in. And the chips are the gross things happening. My man's throwing vomit all over his microphone, and Charlie's getting his balls whacked for having a couple of dusty chips over there. So we want to do like a what's up chat thing, or like a, what can we call it? Let's chat. Give us, throw us any questions or comments to share. I don't think you want to do that. No? Because they were talking about Jerry Goff all day yesterday. I think you'll be under the desk after a couple of... Look for phone calls so people can't call. Let's chat. They were talking about interception regression earlier. That's right. We all are. This is in the wake of the Bears. Here's one. Yep. Fadeoutmedia.com wants to know, I wonder if Pirates owner Bob Nutty hangs out with Woody Johnson. My guess is no. There's no cross-pollination in the sport. That's right up your alley, Waddle. Come on. Revelers parade giant penises to dash stigma in Japan's Fertility Festival. You mean that again? I got it. There's a lot there. Revelers parade giant penises to dash the stigma in Japan's Fertility Festival. Showcasing phallus-shaped portable shrines and pink penis candies, Japan's annual Fertility Festival teamed Sunday with tourists. couples and families elated by its open display of sex. Get your penises here. Gonna let that one be for a while, Charlie. I hoping before you leave for the day we hear that in some sort of return to programming Today a three black steel phallus sits in the courtyard of the Kana Yamiya Shrine honoring the Shinto details of fertility, childbirth, and protection from sexually transmitted infections. Have you ever donated your sperm? No. Why? I just asked since we're on the... No, I have not. No. Nope. Mine worked, though. I got four kids. You used past tense there. Do you think you could procreate if given the opportunity today? Oh, yeah. You could? Yeah. You don't think I could procreate? Well, I mean, no, I'm not saying you can't. You don't think my guys swim? That's what I'm... I'm 59 years old. I'm not dead. I don't know if they can swim. This is the punishment for the bracket challenge. Wait a second. You have to have a kid. Al Pacino had a child. He's 75 or 79 years old. I think he's older than that. He's 130 years old. He just had a kid. I think some older people can. Not all. I think he's 85. Yeah. Charlie! Wow! I can still impregnate somebody. That's my kid over there. She got a great ass. it's pretty good charlie it was good thank you thank you this is funny testing suggests that google's ai overviews tell millions of lies per hour i know i like i tried to send you a stat the other day that i i funneled through ai and i was wrong way off like i understand that this is going to be the wave of the future and i understand that it's important to to learn how to use it these days but if it's not accurate but i don't understand why would you use it i would just i would go the extra lengths to make sure that the accuracy was intact instead of just believing mr ai you dean's got a question for you can i sure dean welcome to waddle's world dean i always love a good interaction with mean dean what do you got for waddle and me all right well my buddy's wife brought this up at the other day at the cubs game she was a little wasted, but I think I could guess all of your techniques and I want to see if you guys can guess mine. Techniques. If you are a crumpler or a folder when you're taking a shit, Waddle. A crumpler? A folder? Do I fold the paper? Yeah, I fold the paper. I don't crumple it. I'm a folder of the paper. He was going to predict, though. I thought you said, he asked me, he said, are you a crumpler or a folder? I was going to predict that you were actually a crumpler because I think people who fold tend to be more of a tight ass, pardon the pun. How about I just find it cleaner? Silverman and Tyler strike me as people who would fold to wipe their ass, whereas me and Charlie crumple. But my crumpling technique is very good, I will say. I mean, there's a whole... I throw my crumpling technique up against yours any day. I'd just be thrilled, Dean, if you use toilet paper. I didn't know that people fold the toilet paper. You're out of control, Waddle. That was level of load. That was taking a shot. Get us a roll. Can you get us a roll so we can illustrate and show how we do this? I don't crumple, nor do I fold. I sort of roll it into like a ball-ish type thing. We got paper towels. That's crumpling. That's crumpling? I called earlier to share a celebrity sighting also, but you left me on hold forever. Who was it? Who'd you see? Who'd you see? Well, there were two. They both happened in the River North. The first was, these are great. I'm like Silverman. I need someone like Waddle to point this stuff out to me. But I was out with co-workers, and I saw the oldest son from Home Improvement. And we were at O'Larry's Bar in River North, Zach Ty Bryan. He was a mess, absolutely wasted. We did all sorts of illicit drugs and drank. We were wasted. He was out of control. And then in 2013, I was with my old girlfriend. Her friend was in town. It was a Saturday daytime in River North. I had to bartend that night, and I was already wasted. And I get out of my – I'm in my car. I think I was, like, rolling a blunt or something. And I see the Pistons were in town to play the Bulls. I see Lawrence Frank. and I run out of my car and I scream. He was with like Will Biner or something. I just saw this little tiny bald guy and this big huge black guy. I was like, oh my God, that's Lawrence Frank. And my girlfriend and her friend said I was nuts. I get out of my car and I didn't know what to say. I was like, you, when you saw Chris Bosh. You know, my restaurant with all the pictures, I just screamed at him. I go, I want to put you on my wall! Lawrence gets so excited over... Freaking out. Is he in the front office somewhere, Lawrence Frank? Put you on my wall. I know. I think he's in the Clippers, yeah, at last check. This is what I mean about the chat, all right? So let me read you the last few comments here. Baseball player zero, Waddle carries sylve. And then Ravi says, Dean sucks, in all caps. I mean, look, everyone's welcome to their opinion. It doesn't mean you've got to read them. And then, you know, Robbie says a dean should be limited to one call per day. Kenneth says Jesus Christ. Yes. Juan Allude says drive into the lake, Dean. And then someone says I can run into the bathroom real quick and grab some toilet paper to show you the technique if you'd like. If you want me to. Yeah, that's a paper towel. Let's get a roll. Get a roll. So I'll talk to Martin says only Cap cares about Dean. Someone says Christian says Dean needs a friend. It's something. People love to talk trash in that. Knives come out in that chat. Yeah, over just the phone call of Dean, it gets under people's skin. so all right uh so we'll we'll talk with the chat more and more if you guys want to offer up anything uh waddle is getting the toilet paper yeah i like i i like i consider crumpling you just take it and you just crumple it i it's sort of like an or not quite organized but more of a like a roll i take a like about something like about that long and then i roll it and then go I feel like that's folding, though. That's folding. I'm a folder for sure. Yeah, I'm a folder. I'm not a folder. I'm just so dainty and neat. It's not a ball because I need coverage. So it's still where it's got maximum coverage. You want, like, yeah, the tracker. I never knew that this was a thing. Like, there were so many different techniques. I didn't know it was a debate. I really don't care what other people do. The only toilet paper debate that I've always heard is the... Over, under? Oh, yeah. You go over, which everyone should do. Like, I hate when I get the toilet paper and it comes under. Yeah. Okay, so, like, I couldn't get the full roll because you'd have to have the keys. You'd have to... Hold on a second. The craziest thing is... You'd have to have the key to get in there. Somebody was in the skull and Waddle went in there and you just grabbed the toilet paper. I just jumped over top. By the way, Charlie, check your bag before you check your bag tonight, okay? I'm just saying. Before you check your bag... Oh, yeah, it's already checked. Check your bag. No, I'll check it again. Okay. So this is what I'm saying. When the toilet paper comes out, when I take it out, I do do this. And then before you wipe, then it's like that. That's a fold. That's a fold, yeah. That's a fold. I'm a fold. So, like, this is a little long. You've never said that, right? Sorry, this is a little long. And then I go like this. Is that folding? That's kind of a fold. That's a fold. That's a fold, yeah. roll? It's not like ever on the partitions or whatever. You don't have to be doing like... You've got a tendency... You're just folding a fitted sheet there is what you're doing. I feel good about this, though. You don't have to be doing like origami for it to count as a fold. I know, but I think you've got... The likelihood that you're going to have to really wash and poop off your fingers is significantly higher if you're not folding. Because I think that there's a misfactor like here. If you just go like this... Yeah, then there are animals who do that. That's like, look at all these. It doesn't even seem like it would work. That's why I'm saying the foam is the best. The foam is the best. The foam is the best. Like, I'm surprised you wrapped it around your hand like you have a technique. Well, I mean, I'm not sure that I do. Maybe I do do that. I'm not sure. Like boxing tape. But I need to roll. Like, I'm not, you know, I need to, like, simulate this. See, this is, I know, when Craig moved us to the new studios and bought nine 4K cameras inside our Jeff Dickerson studio, that he felt that this would be perfect for a toilet paper debate. Well, he can always tell us we can stay at home when the White Sox are on. Like, right, Tyler? Right, Charlie? I mean, you could get a camera on us on the 14th hole down at Cog Hill if you'd like. Anyway, did you see Shane Smith was sent? I'm sure you did. Was sent back to AAA? It surprised me when I heard that this morning. There's got to be a, this is the first time ever to this. Carmen, or I mean, Carmen asked him that, Jesse, today. And he said, Jesse is having a tough time finding that stat. Well, it's not just that he was the opening day pitcher this year. He was last year as well. And was an all-star. Right. I'm shocked that he has any, I mean, should I not be shocked? Maybe I don't understand baseball. Options to send him back. It's not like he pitched poorly yesterday either. I get that there was a lot of traffic on the base pass, but he allowed one hit yesterday. No, I know, but he had eight strikeouts. Do you know what he said? He has completely worn out their bullpen because you've got to come and get him. I think what, didn't Jesse say he's done 197 pitches in three starts and hasn't pitched a full nine innings? Think about that. So, I don't know. He had almost as many walks as he had strikeouts. So, I know that there are a lot of players who have been sent down very early in a season. But the starting, the opening day starter this early, it's usually not them. That's weird. It was really weird. Blood tests show hundreds of Georgians charged with DUI were actually sober. That's not good. An exclusive channel to Action News Investigation finds hundreds of Georgians arrested for DUI in 2025. Later, we're proven to be sober by GBI blood tests. What is the rule like? What are you supposed to do? First of all, the rule is don't drink a drug. Okay, we know that. That's the assumed. But like Tiger didn't even. Did Tiger submit? He didn't have a drink and he didn't blow, right? Just because I think he didn't blow either. He wanted to do a urine test. I think he did blow. Yeah, because he had a zero. That's right. It was Justin Timberlake then maybe who refused to. I think you're right. He said he was on a world tour, too. Did you see that? It's going to ruin the tour. Now, look, I thought, maybe I'm wrong. I like JT. When I watched the Justin Timberlake body cam footage, I felt like he wasn't trying to be. I agree with you. I'm Justin Timberlake. Like, that combined with him being buzzed caused him to not know how to phrase it. He didn't want to be the douche who's dropping, hey, do you know who I am? I'm Justin Dipperlick. I'm on this tour. And he didn't know how to phrase it. I'm with you. Totally. I didn't think he was being a douche. But he was. You could tell he was incapacitated. Anchorage has to close a child care funding gap because people are buying less weed. How about that? So weed, the tax on weed, after voters approved a 5% tax on cannabis products to help pay for child care and early education in 2023, officials designed a system aimed at spending those revenues with maximum impact in the community for the benefit of kids and families. Where is this? Is this our state? This is Anchorage, Alaska. Boy, there's a lot of weed that's being sold, isn't there? Well, look, I'm a newbie, and I really do enjoy it. I believe, just like anything, as we evolve, you can really enjoy it, and it's beneficial. My sleep has been as good as it's been in a long, long time because of what I take. The CBD, it's a combo of THC, CBD, CBN. And CBS. Do you have a hangover in the morning or no? No, that's a non-starter. That's why a lot of prescription drugs that I've tried in the past just were non-starters because I hate the groggy feeling in the morning. You know, after you do wake up. We're all tired in the morning, but after the first 10 minutes, you've got to be able to shake it off. And my body has adjusted. I feel great in the morning. Tyler, this is a question for you and Charlie because you're golfers. Augusta National Golf Club chairman Fred Ridley said yesterday, actually said it this morning, that the club supports governing bodies' efforts to reduce elite driving distance. Says the ball's traveling too far. He's in support of efforts to reduce driving distance. Are you good with that? Yeah, because I think we've gotten too far with the technology now. The drivers are so good. So what they're doing is, and this is even going to impact us buying golf balls, They're rolling back the golf balls. So they're basically deadening some of the golf balls. Really? Because the technology. Don't do that for them. Don't do that for us. Because you know what kind of golf boner you get when you crack one. No, I know. And it's 250, 260. Do not do that to us guys pushing 60. But the thing is, is these days with the courses, like you can't. There's so many golf courses where you can't just expand them anymore. And I think this is part of what Augusta. Well, Augusta did that. They've tried to back as far as they're like maxed out. They are. And there's like the what the one house I think that is pivotal to their expansion that will not sell to them. They're just holding firm. But you can't expand these courses anymore. And these guys are just crushing three hundred seventy five, four hundred yard drives. Let's have professional golf balls and different golf balls for the average golf. Why not? You're saying no. But even like for us, like our drivers and our golf balls now, I get like they always say it doesn't matter as much for you and I. And that's true. But even still, like some of these par fours are just super gettable. Listen, I've got to I played I played some golf this weekend with my son in law and my daughter's fiance. They both hit it really far. but the one kid, Colin, Leah's fiancé, he can drive like 340-yard power fours. The ball just like... You're like, welcome to the family, son. Yeah. You want to play in a scramble this weekend? That's right. For money? But, I mean, it's just like crazy. Like, my son-in-law, Jack, can hit it a far way, too. But, like... Do you feel old when you're playing with a youngster? Fuck yes. Because of that? Yeah, but you know what? I end up scoring better than them because I keep the ball on the fairway. That's right. By the way, the Sox have just lost. They were trying to mount a rally in the ninth inning. They had first and second. But was that Montgomery who grounded out to end the game? The studio of tears over there is Aiden and Hannah are in there crying into their microphone. Five to three. It's been kind of these short little swings for the Sox. They had the one and five start. Then they swept Toronto. and then they just got swept by the Orioles, didn't they? Yeah, but I would say this. I mean, they've been in all these games, and I'm not patting them on the head, but they're pitching better as well. You know? So, like, the first, I want to say the first seven games, they were giving them nine runs a game. So I think that there is some signs of, you know, the improvement that's going to be necessary for them to have one of these good years. And by the way, the last couple of days, The ball is just hitting the wind wall out there. There have been several shots that didn't fly out of the park that normally would. I don't know that you're getting a full understanding of what the team's going to be. Youth baseball starts this weekend for us. First games this weekend, out in the cold. It's going to be a little rainy on Saturday. Yeah, it's the first house league games on Saturday. We've got a travel scrimmage on Sunday. So back at it out there in the cold. Okay, before we, do you want to do some Florida or Ohio in here? Yeah. But first, gardening linked to staying sharp in later life study finds. I found this. My house I live in now, I don't have a garden. I'm going to have to put one in this year. Because I got to tell you, I got more joy out of planting and taking care of my garden at my old house as much as I did playing golf. I loved gardening. So are you going to start a garden at your new house? Yes, I am. What crops are you looking to grow? Well, you know, tomatoes are always at the top of the list. The cucumbers are always on the top of the list. You like a good, hearty cucumber. Why not? You don't like tomatoes, though, right? I don't. But my family loves them. I love them. So we have different versions of them. Can you grow some cherry tomatoes this year? Yes, I can. Yeah, I will. Yeah, I love the cherry tomatoes. Yeah, you got to provide the fertilizer for your specific ones. What do you mean? You got to shit in a box and then put it all over your cherry tomato plants. Yours are going to be highlighted. Waddle's Cola Garden. That's right. All right. Florida, Ohio. How about that? Check your bag. Check your bag. Exotic animals. Dumb criminals. Random stabbings. Or maybe just some good old-fashioned debauchery. Everything's on the table. It's the Sunshine State versus the Buckeye State as we play Florida or Ohio. And as always, listeners, feel free to play along at home. What do you got today? Florida, Ohio is brought to you by Tyler Aki. Man shoots at juveniles after a ding-dong ditch prank. This sounds like Carmen DeFalco. Carmen DeFalco, Western Springs. This man is facing multiple charges after police say he fired shots at a group of juveniles who played a ding-dong ditch prank at his home. The court records show that Jarvis Godfrey, 33 years old, is charged with discharge of a firearm on or near a prohibited premises, improperly discharging a firearm at or into a habitation or school safety zone, and felonious assault. Okay, this is what's wrong with our country these days, and just society in general. All right? It's like these teenage takeovers that are happening in town. My dad would kick, I wouldn't even say, my mom would kick my ass if I participated in one of those. Bobby, get over here! And she'd rip that belt off my dad's waist and she would beat my ass with it if I was involved in something like that. What the? So I thought you were going to go after the guy for shooting. Yes, I am. Because he was over the top in a reaction. I am. But you're going after the parents who don't teach their kids the right way. I'm going after the kids, first of all. Yeah, okay. And then the entire family element there. I got mad. But my point is, is, like, this whole thing is crazy. There was a time when Ding Dong Ditch was just, you know what? It was good, clean fun for kids in my era. I was just going to say, that's good, clean family fun. Good, clean fun. It's a good prank. Yes, like, we used to do it all the time, and now you've got to worry about somebody shooting at you? ring doorbells also probably ruined ding dong ditching yeah but the kids are so dumb they still do it or they'll do it on halloween where they'll take multiple bars and you can see who it is but that's also fun because when they get to your doorstep and they're gonna you know you hit the button i'll hit the button and then if you see them on you you can say hey i can see you you little wise ass they don't care though i know but that there's the interaction it's not hey honey bring me that pistol oh right i mean it's it's ridiculous that the this is it tyler between that we used did you used to pool hop when you were a kid pool hop yeah whatever name were you in a neighborhood where there were any he tries out pool yeah what the and now all of a sudden he's pool hopping anyone had a pool that except for the little k-mart pool that was plastic in the backyard skokie me 20 um you had to go to kenwood to go pool hop you couldn't pool hop in your own neighborhood because there were no in-ground pools. There may be a couple of above-ground pools. You don't want to get into those. Yeah, we didn't have any of those. So in Kenwood, in the nice area, oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. What does that mean? Just in the middle of the night. Just in the pool? Yes. I don't think that's called pool hopping. I think it's just trespassing. Same thing. Well, so is ding-dong and ditching. That's trespassing. It's kind of breaking and entering, isn't it? Like, while not in the house, they're probably still a property. It was a gated property. We had this one pool that, like, at night, especially in the summertime, steam would come up off of it. And we'd just get our swim on. Does that app, remember there was a pool app, like an Uber slash for swimming pools, where you can rent out people's pools for, like, an hour or two? Really? A few years ago, this was a big thing. It was, like, VRBO. It's called pool prostitution. Airbnb for people's pools. Wow. like someone who owns a house and that they would let you use their pool and rent it out like for an hour and you could bring your family, bring your friends and use their pool I don't know if that's still a thing Do they have to have a pool house? I've never done it but I thought it sounded cool because I love a good pool I have nowhere to turn anymore now that Waddle doesn't have a pool I don't have one there was someone on, one of my friends someone on his block who there was like this little like smaller house down the way like probably 10 houses down and it was just some a pool house like the family had another home somewhere else in town and like they had an offshoot pool house wow like a satellite pool house i like that you could definitely pull out there this is certainly florida this is certainly Florida uh I'm gonna say Jacksonville okay that's a good one I am going like a city-ish that has a a decent size um suburban area too so I'll go like outskirts of Fort Lauderdale area yeah I feel like on the x y like you can draw an x y graph on like seriousness of offense and time to grab gun and I think Florida is very quick on that on that yeah this there's more tolerance in the state of Ohio. Yeah, this is a little Tampa-y to me. Sweep of Florida, sweep of losers. Green Township, Ohio. Green Town, Ohio. Is that what it is? Green Township. Green Township. Where is it? I don't know. Hamilton County. Hamilton County is where I grew up. I grew up in Hamilton County. I was in Hamilton County. Butler County was the county next to us, but I grew up in Hamilton County. Is it southwest Ohio? It is, yeah, it looks like it. Let's see. Oh, boy. Yeah, it's a little north and west of Cincinnati. Check and see Sharonville. See if you can find Sharonville. Sharonville, where is Sharonville in comparison to the city? It's your name of Tommyville. Well, it's north of the city. I know, but I didn't know if I was moving north or west. I didn't northeast. Northeast. All right. Is it Greenville Township or what was it? It's Green Township. Green Township. It's very, you know, Westwood. No. Monfort Heights. Yes. All right. Monfort Heights is a part of Green Township. Green Township, Ohio. Kirkdale, Mack, Dent. You know where the. It sounds like the Bears of former Bears teams. Khalil Mack, Richard Dent. Did you just mention Mack and Dent? Mack and Dent. This is basically where I grew up. Yes. This is southwest corner of Cincinnati. Good times. All right. There you go. That's Waddles, World, Florida, or Ohio. It is 5-3 a final on the south side. As soon as Miller is done with the postgame show, we will be on everywhere on ESPN 1000, 100.3 HD2, and also the ESPN Chicago app. If you want to talk to us, 312-332-3776. What else is on your guys' mind today? I was going to play you a couple more bites about the Bulls, but if you guys want to. Did you see Peter Schrager had it? I think Peter only does like one mock draft a year, doesn't he? He does one like around now and then one on week of, I think. Did you see who Peter had them taking at 25? It was Proctor, right? Yes, Caden Proctor, offensive tackle from Alabama. That's what Courtney was alluding to, that she has seen some. So I would not at all be opposed to going first round left tackle. I wouldn't either. if you've got a high quality guy there I'm more open to it now I'd rather see them take a left tackle than a safety there's lots of safety buzz lots of bare safety buzz it may not be a good area was Courtney alluding to this too it's a weird area for the edge rushers you're in between there's some good ones in the second round the safety class is really fun there is a safety out of LSU named AJ Halsey who is often mocked to them in the second round. Is he going to be one of you dogs? That guy is a certified dog, in my opinion. He's awesome. So pick him in the second round? And, like, you can find these guys. No, safeties, great safeties. Leg-wide receivers can be drafted second, third, fourth round. Emmyl Laurie was a second-rounder, right? He was. And even then, like, part of the reason safeties work so well is you don't have to be this, you know, fifth percentile athlete to play because it's such a, you know, between the ears position. It's the same thing with, like, center. Like, you don't have to be the best athlete on the field to be a really good safety like you do if you're a corner. I would bet a lot of money that for sure the Bears take a safety in the first three rounds. They have one first two seconds and a third correct They should have two thirds They don have any safeties outside of Kobe Bryant on the roster right now that you can credibly look at and say this is a guy we feel good about I get that but maybe can they convert somebody into a safety There's a lot of stuff. We've talked about Tyreek Stevenson before. That goes a little bit into the hope is not a plan, though. Yeah. No, you're right. Tyreek Stevenson, I saw a couple of weeks ago, has presented himself as somebody that realizes that this is an opportunity for him to get back on track and be a difference-making player. I don't know if I saw it on social media. As a corner or to do whatever. He didn't say. He didn't say, but I saw some video of him. He's already working out. Yeah, he should. Yeah, so who knows? With the safety stuff and using the most money that they've spent in free agency, wasn't Kobe Bryant the highest-paid guy they got? Yes. I just, I feel, I don't know. I mean, am I wrong to think that you don't, your biggest needs have been edge rusher, defensive tackle, left tackle. And yes, you need safety. You should be able to find somebody. Like, to go then with your top free agent dollar and your top draft pick on safeties, aren't you neglecting the other things? This is what I've said in the last several weeks is once you become a better football team, I think you can veer away from that best player available mentality. I'm not suggesting that it shouldn't be part of the core of what you're doing. But again, what if the best available player is a wide receiver or a tight end? Are you going to make that play? No, you shouldn't. I think they weight it though, right? Part of the best player available proposition is it's weighted by positional need and value. But I would say they've got such a bigger positional need at edge or even DT over safety that please take that into consideration when it's decision-making time. That's what I'm saying. I think they have a similar urgency of need. I just think the need at pass rush is obviously something that's going to have a lot more impact on the rest of the roster. Listen, I mean, Lawrence is a guy maybe they've got interest in him. I don't know what it would take to get him. But, I mean, he definitely would fit the bill. I would ask the question, though, for a player who's your captain, why was he overweight and did he underachievement? Yeah, of course. You know what I mean? He's a captain, for Christ's sake. And he had a bad injury the year before. I think he dislocated his elbow, but, like, that shouldn't take you out of shape. Yeah. But, you know, I don't know. If they draft a safety in 25, if he's a fantastic player, I'm not going to bitch and moan. I kind of lost my zest for screaming at the top of my lungs about getting someone who can sack quarterbacks. I would still prefer that. But if you bring me a safety, a difference-making safety, then while it wouldn't be at the top of my list, it's different than adding somebody that won't play. That guy's got to play from day one. You don't draft a safety at 25 and he sits behind Elijah Hicks. But even if you're drafting an edge rusher or a defensive tackle or a left tackle for that matter too, if you're drafting them at 25, they should start for you day one. You would think so. Yeah. I don't know if that guy's going to start at defensive tackle. I mean, maybe. Maybe with Ben Johnson involved. But you would think that they would start Dexter and Grady Jarrett and this guy would be part of a rotation. As long as he's playing a bunch. I don't care who starts yet. When you have rotations, who cares who starts? Your play percentage participation rate's got to be. The thing that we can, it sort of reminds me of the Cubs from their first year they got good. First year on the council, even though they didn't win anything or get to the postseason, they were still good. where Jed said a lot of our improvement has to come from within. I think the Bears are thinking that, too. They didn't make the splashes that we thought. Jed actually said guys have to overachieve. Yes, right. Caleb's the biggest key, obviously, right? If Caleb improves this year, the Bears should be a really good team. I think their offense is going to be fantastic. But Caleb should improve. Colston Loveland should improve. Luther Burden should improve. Rome should improve. Rome and Dunze should improve. Booker should improve. There are a lot of guys that I think we've circled that we feel good about, even though they had good years, that they have just sort of tapped into the potential. Don't ignore Jalen Johnson should be improved with health. Kyler Gordon should be improved with better health. I think that's a great point. And I think some of their best players are not coming, like, have room for improvement. Caleb is just scratching the surface. Roma Dunze didn't do much. And then the two veterans, I think Gordon and Jalen, are huge keys on defense. They still need pass rush. But you were, those two guys have got to be your, they're one of the two guys who've got second contracts on this team. They have to play like your core pieces. Well, it was interesting because I think Ben Johnson talked about those guys as well. He didn't really get to know them as much as he wanted to know them, which is odd for a head coach to say. But both of them were injured so frequently, especially early in the year. There really was no relationship that was built. But, yeah, I think that, you know, I think that there's that's part of their plan is that we're going to get internal improvement that is going to take the place of going out there and taking big swings in free agency. Here's hoping that's the case. By the way, the stadium thing that we touched on with Courtney, Shefty tweeted about it a couple of days ago, but we had the Breaking Bulls news. I just don't know if there's anything new. It's a weird dynamic, I've told people, because I know that when the stadium talk is brought up, I hear from some people who say, I'm sick of it, I don't want to hear about it. That's just Tyler. Until there's an answer. but yet wherever I go, whether it's friend groups, whether I just meet fans of the show or fans of the Bears, the number one question I get amongst Bears fans, and it's that close, it's not about Caleb, it's not about Ben, it's about where will the Bears be, where are the Bears going to build their stadium? So it's a weird dynamic because I hear from some who say I'm tired of it, But yet in public, the first thing when we start talking bears is, hey, Sylvie, where do you think the bears are going to end up? Do you really think they're going to Indiana? Do you? What do you think is going to happen with Illinois? They're certainly in the legislature sure don't seem like they're in a hurry in getting this thing put to bed. I know there are bigger fish to fry and that there are a lot of issues, but shouldn't this – like how hard should this be? You can't do all of this? Yeah, you should. How about then you stay in session longer? How about that? I never understood that. I never understood that. If you have more work than you have time. And then we're done for the day. See you next week. Yeah. No. Not if you've got more to do. That is the funniest part. It's like, well, you know, Sylvie, we've got real stuff we're dealing with down here. Half the time, when you're in session, you're not in session. 24 hours in a day. I don't get it. It's why I'm not involved in politics. I don't know much about it to begin with. but I don't understand when they're in session how often they're out of session while they're in session. Do you know what I mean? I do. I still would put my money on Arlington Heights, and I'm like Tyler. I have started to drift away from being interested in it because I'm so tired of it, and it's a frustrating conversation. I've leaned to the point now where if you can't figure this shit out by the end of May, which I think is when it's over. Yes, that's sort of what they're waiting for. They want action by that. It needs to be wrapped up. Take that shit to Hammond. Yes. That's what they're doing. This is like their backup plan. If you can't get this tax certainty solved and you're dragging your feet and you're trying to puff your chest out, then guess what? Just take it to Hammond. Just take it there. Like I don't want it there. I would rather it be in Arlington Heights for selfish reasons. I want them to stay in the state of Illinois. I think that's where it's most likely to be. but I've run out of interest in patients talking about it too. This is like pursuing someone that you really like and they just continue to say no so you then just get someone that you settle with. You know what I mean? I thought you were going to say then you kidnap them and force them to know. No, no, no, no. Look, okay, I've tried. I've tried my best. Still not. Maybe she gave me the time of day but it doesn't return my calls really quick. My texts are left unread. But, you know, we had a couple good dates. I'm still going to give it a shot. And then you're just like, okay, you know what? I'd rather just settle with this person. Yeah, but the state of Illinois in so many ways is a three. Like, you know, so you're chasing a three. But you won't. I don't know if it's a three. Because, like, you called it paradise. Yeah. The 326 8ers, and they'd rather be there. Correct. But you know what? That's an 8 in their mind. That's a 9. Okay, but what about the personality? here the personality is a two yeah difficult nature your personality sucks yes yes you ain't all of that you gotta wine them and dine them just who they who really that's what i'm saying so at the end of the day yes visually you're a nine overall you're lucky to be a four or five because of how you handle yourself and the image that you give. And your personality sucks. But Hammond is – And you suck up. So what is Hammond? Hammond is someone who is – Good personality. The great personality person. Yeah. They're the Seahawks. You know – Great helmets, you know. Good, but going to be a great partner. Yeah. Seahawks. Have you ever heard that? Yeah, all the time. Yeah. Do you want to expand? No, I'm not. I'm kidding. Oh, by the way, did we get the right microphone thing, Charlie? I'm seeing the way it's labeled. I didn't. I thought they were talking about that Waddle has been manhandling his own microphone. That Yurko could not get the microphone to work, and you've labeled it something differently. And I don't know if I want to go there if it's about that. Yeah, I thought that it was all part of the same thing. but I'll just re-listen to it to make sure. Should I play? I touch the microphone like if I'm standing or sitting. They accused you. So, like, Yurko couldn't get his microphone to, like, stay in the normal spot. Right, because if you stand up, if you see this, if I stand up, sometimes it'll fall. But if you sit down, I mean, you can't sit here and have the microphone there. You've got to bring the microphone down. So you do jerk it around a bit. You do, like, jerk that pig? They were saying that it was a Cap thing. Cap came in and goes, I don't touch the microphone. It was like this before me. So then they said that you've been manhandling the microphone. Well, if you didn't touch your microphone, then you were in the same position for the entirety of the show. Because if you stand up to do the show, like, is this where you're going to use the microphone? No, it's up here. You just manhandled the microphone in their world. No, but they're accusing you of twisting it in a different direction in ways it's not meant to be bent. This one has always, when you raise it, it swivels. Yeah, it's kind of faulty. Oh, really? Yeah. Let me grab the part after Cap walks in because that's when it turns on Waddle. That's the part. You thought they were talking about a certain NFL reporter. I did. Well, yeah. Oh, really? It did, yeah. Really? Now I'm lost. About the Russini of Rabel thing. What about that? It's labeled your Russini joke manhandling the mic. Oh, Yurko made a joke about it. Oh, Yurko made a joke. Yeah, I think so. Interesting. I've sat down for the entirety of this show, so I really... Like, I feel too low. Our chairs need to come up. Sometimes, yeah. I can't sit... I mean, I can't do the whole show like this. I'm going to have to stand up in a moment. Me too. Like, it's tough to stand for four hours. But I've been doing that lately because we don't have the chairs that really raise. Yeah, I'll manhandle the shit out of this microphone if I have to. I'll raise it. I'll drop it. Before we get back to the Bulls stuff, once we get on. Tyler, you want to talk about the stadium? Are you good? No, I'm stadium battle. Yeah, I think a lot of people are. A couple of random sports stories I wanted to talk about. Did you guys see what happened in the Golden State Sacramento game last night? I did not. Tyler, did you? I heard about it. I didn't see it, though. Draymond Green spoke about it afterwards. I saw the highlights on GetUp. This is ridiculous. And I believe that they've been making a lot about tanking where smart teams do bottom out. Like we were talking about the difference between tanking and bottoming out. I believe like tanking, you're actively doing everything to try to lose. Bottoming out is you're simply drafting and going younger and playing your young guys to develop and whatever happens, happens. The Sacramento Kings took it to a new level yesterday in the form of Doug McDermott, too. It was really an odd sight. So the Warriors were playing at home, and Steph is back. And the Kings, who are brutal, and they're trying to get in the top four for the lottery because all four teams then have the same amount of odds to get the number one pick. The Kings took a three-point lead with about three minutes left. Do you know they then started fouling the Warriors like they were trailing the game with three minutes left? There was a foul. Someone fouled Steph to get him to the free. Well, I think first it was Steph. And then it was McDermott who fouled Seth. I think there were two separate instances where they went out of their way to foul good free throw shooters. The McDermott one was, but I think there was a play before with Steph. They ended up losing 110 to 105. Like, and I heard Eddie on the north side call in, and I agree with him. I don't, and I virtually never agree with him. That's not tanking. That's not bottoming out. That's throwing a basketball game. That is, there cannot be any sort of a, like, it's like striking out on purpose in a baseball game. There should be no room for a team. So what do you do? What do you do if you're the NBA? Well, I mean, like, that is just the obvious. Like, you don't need to, like, that has to be major fines. Draft pick taking away, like. That's what Draymond said. He said, I saw a team tonight foul. I got the sound. Yeah, you want the sound? This is Draymond. I saw a team tonight foul Seth Curry with three minutes of the game for no reason. In the penalty. I get fined when I do wrong. Just fining the hell out of people. You know, we love taking money from players. Keep fining the teams. I've seen two fines. And we all know everybody taking. But you've seen two fines. We snatched that money in a heartbeat. Why isn't it the same? And we see 12 teams thinking. We've seen two fines. My math serves me correctly. That's a 10 that ain't been fined. Just some quick math. It could be wrong, so don't judge me if it's wrong. But we don't keep that same energy when it comes to teams, when it comes to officials, when it comes to everybody but players. We don't keep that same energy. What do you think with what he had to say? I think they should be fined for something like that. I think he gets fined for good reason as well because he does a lot of stupid things on the court. This is a many things can be true kind of situation. Yeah, exactly. Two things can be true at once here. Like what I've always said when I've thought in the past that the Bulls have carried veterans and are playing too much instead of letting the kids play and develop and whatever happens, happens. I've always said the coach and the players don't tank. They're trying to win. And that's where I'm fine with things happening. This was them getting a directive from their coach who is getting the directive from the front office to actively try to lose. It is like saying, here's my bag of drugs and labeling it by saying bag of drugs. Well, I would say, too, that the league should have the authority to make that subjective decision that, you know what? That was obvious, Tanky. That's bad for the game. Now I'm going to fine you. It shouldn't be fines, though. Like, we got to start taking ping pong balls. Yeah, that's right. I'm fine with that. Take ping pong balls the most. Because if you're just going to fine billionaires thousands of dollars, what do they care? That's a fair point. You're right. I mean, for all of these, these franchises are worth multiple billion dollars. Yeah, do whatever it is, punish them in a way that actually is inspirational to them so that they don't do this again. What would you guys do with the lottery or with everyone's coming up? I still believe, like, my bigger issue with the NBA these days is not knowing which team is trying on any given night. Not necessarily tanking, but who load managing or several guys are out or, you know, not everyone playing as many minutes or is playing as hard when they should be playing. I still believe that's the greater issue, but when it then dissolves into this, this was something I don't remember ever seeing from a team. I'm sure there's an easy answer to this question, but my brain is fried sometimes. Why does the NBA need a lottery where the NFL doesn't? Because then what the NBA wanted to do was to give that way, if there's one team that's the worst, it's easier to tank. And it's easier to get the number one pick. Well, they don't do this in baseball either, do they? No, they do. There's a baseball lottery. There's actually more drastic measures in baseball. That's why the Sox had the 11th pick after they had the worst record ever. When did they put that into effect? Recently. Like three years ago, I want to say. Because they think that it creates more fairness? Yeah, to me, like, baseball tanking, I don't think anyone ever looks at that as a problem. I don't think there needs to be the measures in place for baseball that there are. So you think they overdo it? The trying. The payroll. Yeah, yeah. With trying to, like, Pittsburgh, not trying. Well, yeah, the financials of it's different. Oakland and, you know, year in and year out. The Marlins in the past. I feel like you also have, like, the hope is there. Like, it's in your farm system. Like, if you're the Pirates, yeah, the last number of years sucked. But, like, I mean, I guess Paul Skeens wasn't really in their system for that long. But, like, you had Bubba Chandler in your system. You had Connor Griffin. Like, you had all these guys that, even when the Cubs were really bad, before all those guys came up, like, you still were, you know, you still knew what Chris Bryant was up to in the minors. You still knew the kinds of guys that you were getting back for some of these trade deadlines. So I feel like that deadens the blow of watching a really shitty baseball team. So how do you fix the NBA lottery? So there was an announcement today that the NBA Board of Governors is going to meet May 28th to vote on the anti-tanking measures. What are they? So there's three options. The one that has the most momentum right now is this. There's 18 lottery teams. So it's the 10 teams that miss the play-in altogether. Then it's the play-in teams, the four play-in teams. And then eight other teams. I'm guessing that's going to be the eight teams that lose in the first round. Oh, really? And then the bottom 10 teams each have 8% chances of moving up in the lottery, while the other eight teams split 20% odds of moving up in the lottery. And all 18 teams are a part of this new lottery. So they think by expanding the teams who get the number one pick and not front-loading it with the teams who are the worst getting the best, it's the worst 10 that they feel that will allow teams to try more down the stretch. What I worry about is just like these teams who are trying to get in the top four right now, that it would expand teams who are in the middle to tank earlier to get in the 10 instead of getting into the four. Yeah. To me, like, if you have to vote on something this drastic, you've got a major problem with your league. Well, that's what I mean. Like, a lot of these issues are bigger problems than just tanking or not trying. There's a greater problem currently with the NBA. Like, Bill Simmons' old thing used to be the lottery calendar. Do you guys remember this? where it would never be the draft calendar. You would schedule your team to have a – you would know every year which pick you have. So like one year you'd pick one, the next year you'd pick 30. You know, there's some sort of a formula to it where you're on a schedule. Yeah, I mean, and because you're so inept, why should you be rewarded consistently with high draft picks? you know so I would I would actually as I think of it subscribe more to the random nature of it all just because you suck at your job now we're going to give you the top pick in the draft when there's motivation for you being shitty at your job I don't know if it's necessarily being shitty at your job because it's you're still like game planning in a way like the Spurs Spurs just were smarter with it than every other team out there that was there some luck involved yeah but like they just went about it a better way than other teams i don't know like the lottery system to me i think like the pacers are going to do well right you're going to get halliburton back and you're also going to be but couldn't you also say the celtics had the same predicament that the pacers that's true they're like a lot of people have complimented the celtics i really think the i think the celtics are one of the better stories in the NBA recently. There are a lot of good stories. Wemby is such a great story. What Oklahoma City has done to build that monster is fantastic. You're right. The Celtics are the biggest surprise in all of the NBA. The Celtics could have read, Stevens could have said, Tatum's probably not going to play the following year. Let's just sort of... It's a great draft class. Let's take a year off and then reload it. They stayed true to themselves. They were still really good. and they wanted to win. And then now Tatum has come back so quick and has been so good. They're now the odds on favor to come out of the East and play in the NBA Finals. It's a great story. It is. It is. So I don't know if there is a solution. If anybody has a thought, 3-1-2, 3-3-2, 3-7-7-6. Because obviously the original thought in any sport is The draft tries to get the bad teams good. Do you know how many minutes Jason Tatum is averaging per game right now? It's like 30, isn't it? 25 to 30? 32 minutes per game. What story? Coming back as quickly as he did from Achilles. That's the best story in the NBA. I mean, and obviously Wemby, other stuff. But that story is fantastic. You want to hear Yurko and Karm about your microphone? We got this right now. Here it is. Hold on. Hold on. What are you doing to this thing every morning? What are you doing to this? Upside down and turned around. Look how easy this is. This is all you got to do. I haven't done anything. It was all turned upside down. I found it this morning. Well, who's doing that? Waddle? Who sits here? Waddle? Waddle. Finagels this thing? What is he doing? He's manhandling that thing. But you never change it. You keep it that way. I keep it however it is. That's the way you like it. All right, I got you. I don't touch it. Let's blame Waddle. We're going to get Waddle in here. We're going to give him a course on how to handle this stuff. No question. That guy is killing us, man. It's a pop Waddle thing. We're going to take care of this. Very good. Thanks, Kathy. We'll tell Waddle. Appreciate you coming back. So it's Waddle that's doing the manhandling. Waddle. We've got to pop him. I would. Pop him. I will definitely go through the course, but York's got to teach it, so that means he's got to stay here until 1.30 or 2 o'clock. So I'll go through the manhandling course, but the good kid's got to be the teacher, so he's got to stay here. Your microphone is different than the rest of them. I don't know if it's the way it's pointing right now. They're all here, here, here, here, here. Look at, well, theirs are different, I guess. You guys have yours turned a weird way. It's different than the ones. Yeah, ours hang. He's got yours on the top. Your mic's got Peyronie's disease. Like Floyd. That's right, from DTF St. Louis. Want to go to Denny's later, Will? No, I don't. that was Denny's by the way the i'm not spoiling anything Denny's plan it was called the Denny's plan it's the name of the last episode of DTF St. Louis and it was supposed to be it's obviously not a real one and and the scenes in Chicago are fake but it's supposed to be a Denny's on the north side did you know yeah yeah it's about it so those scenes aren't from Chicago either i mean like They show the bridge and everything. They just show... It's definitely not the neighborhood they said it is. Yeah, or you could tell by the buses and the street signs when they actually do the acting that it's not that. Some of the phrases are fantastic. The Chicago Board of Trade was mentioned in the last episode. Papa Boner is Papa Fool one. They've got some funky phrases and sayings. You've got to clean the language up, right? When we come back, are we back on everywhere? Maybe not. Maybe not. So, again, thank you to all of our YouTubers and Twitchers who have tuned into the show today to watch us. Even though the White Sox were playing, you got the White Sox on ESPN 1000 and 100.3 HT2 and the ESPN Chicago app. That's where we'll be starting here at 5 o'clock. We'll be everywhere. We'll still remain on YouTube so you don't have to go anywhere if you just want to watch and listen on YouTube or Twitch. We're coming back. I want to reset the main story of the day with the bowls and some of the sound that we had from around the league. We didn't talk about this fight either that they're showing on the screen right now and using the ball as a weapon. It's all coming up next on ESPN 1000.